NBA Basketball Championship Finals
Los Angeles Lakers

Jerry West (#44 against Jeff Mullins) led the Lakers to nine appearances in the NBA Finals during the 1960s & 1970s. Photo by The Sporting News Archives, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Best Four of Seven Games

2010

LA Lakers 4, Boston Celtics 3Lakers...WLWLLWW

2009

LA Lakers 4, Orlando Magic 1Lakers...WWLWW

2008

Boston Celtics 4, LA Lakers 2Lakers...LLWLWL

2004

Detroit Pistons 4, LA Lakers 1Lakers...LWLLL

2002

LA Lakers 4, New Jersey Nets 0Lakers...WWWW

2001

LA Lakers 4, Philadelphia 76ers 1Lakers...LWWWW

2000

LA Lakers 4, Indiana Pacers 2Lakers...WWLWLW

1991

Chicago Bulls 4, LA Lakers 1Lakers...WLLLL

1989

Detroit Pistons 4, LA Lakers 0Lakers...LLLL

1988

LA Lakers 4, Detroit Pistons 3Lakers...LWWLLWW

1987

LA Lakers 4, Boston Celtics 2Lakers...WWLWLW

1985

LA Lakers 4, Boston Celtics 3Lakers...LWWLWW

1984

Boston Celtics 4, LA Lakers 3Lakers...WLWLLWL

1983

Philadelphia 76ers 4, LA Lakers 0Lakers...LLLL

1982

LA Lakers 4, Philadelphia 76ers 2Lakers...WLWWLW

1980

LA Lakers 4, Philadelphia 76ers 2Lakers...WLWLWW

1973

New York Knicks 4, LA Lakers 1Lakers...WLLLL

1972

LA Lakers 4, New York Knicks 1Lakers...LWWWW

1970

New York Knicks 4, LA Lakers 3Lakers...LWLWLWL

1969

Boston Celtics 4, LA Lakers 3Lakers...WWLLWLL

1968

Boston Celtics 4, LA Lakers 2Lakers...LWLWLL

1966

Boston Celtics 4, LA Lakers 3Lakers...WLLLWWL

1965

Boston Celtics 4, LA Lakers 1Lakers...LLWLL

1963

Boston Celtics 4, LA Lakers 2Lakers...LLWLWL

1962

Boston Celtics 4, LA Lakers 3Lakers...LWWLWLL

Minneapolis Lakers in NBA Finals

1959

Boston Celtics 4
Minneapolis Lakers 0Lakers...LLLL

1954

Minneapolis Lakers 4
Syracuse (future 76ers) 3Lakers...WLWLWLW

1953

Minneapolis Lakers 4, New York 1Lakers...LWWWW

1952

Minneapolis Lakers 4, New York 3Lakers...WLWLWLW

1950

Minneapolis Lakers 4
Syracuse (future 76ers) 2Lakers...WLWWLW

1949

Minneapolis Lakers 4
Washington Capitols 3Lakers...WWWLLW

The Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers lead the NBA with 31 appearances in the NBA Finals since 1947. The Boston Celtics follow with 21 appearances. The Celtics, however, lead the Lakers in total number of NBA Final championships, with 17 championships to the Lakers 16.